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Congress that the Moroccans requested the delivery of 24 F-16
C/D Block 50/52 fighters fitted with conformal fuel tanks. The
choice of engines has yet to be made, selecting either the F100-PW-229
or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPE) variants.
Half the Moroccan F-16s will be fitted with targeting pods.
12 pods are included in the package; either the AN/AAQ-33
SNIPER or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING
Targeting Pods are considered.
The avionic suite of these aircraft will include the APG-68(V)9
radar, AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS) and
AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receivers (RWR). The selection of electronic
countermeasures is yet to be made, Morocco will have to choose
between the AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic
Warfare Suite (AIDEWS), AN/ALQ-187 Advanced Self-Protection
Integrated Suites (ASPIS II), or AN/ALQ-178 Self Protection
Electronic Warfare Suites (SPEWS). Similar to the Polish F-16s,
the Moroccan Falcons could also be delivered with Tactical Air
Reconnaissance Systems (TARS) or DB-110
Reconnaissance Pods.
The Moroccan shopping list illustrates their approach to configure
some aircraft for mission specific roles. The five reconnaissance
pods included in the initial request will be used for tactical
recce. Six sets of Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS)
could indicate the use of specific aircraft for air defense
role. Four of these aircraft could be networked with Link-16
Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals,
AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGAR)
radios with HAVE QUICK I/II and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
and Embedded GPS/ Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) as well
as four shipsets of the AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend
or Foe (AIFF).
In addition to the 24 jet fighters, the U.S.
is offering Morocco 24 Texan T-6B trainers, to replace the aging
Cessna T-37 trainers which have been flying for almost half
a century. The turboprop powered Texans are expected to save
66% in fuel consumption, compared to the T-37s. The value of
the trainers package is expected to be around $200 million.
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